5th to 3rd!

I just found out that Iíll be switching from 5th to 3rd next year. I am SO excited. I requested the move, but wasnít sure it would actually happen. Iíve taught 5th for four years, and before that I taught 1st for two years.

What are some things I should keep in mind as Iím coming down from 5th? What major differences (positive or negative) should I prepare for?

What are must have classroom library books? I have an enormous classroom library, but I know Iíll need to remove some of the higher books with more mature content, and Iíll need to supplement with some lower level stuff. What are some great early chapter books and series third graders like? What picture books should I get? I really havenít bought many picture books since I taught 1st, since theyíre not part of my classroom library in 5th.

Any other info? Iím just so excited and canít wait to start preparing.

I moved from 5th to 3rd many years ago and I couldn't imagine teaching 5th now!

3rd graders are way more innocent (most of them anyway) and adore their teacher. They want to tell you stories all the time, so you have to find time to listen occasionally or they won't be able to concentrate on the lesson!

They're a good mix between independent and still young. They'll still tattle a lot, so I try to make sure they know the difference between things I need to know and what's tattling.

Go over the procedures carefully and practice a lot. I take them through assignments step by step to make sure they understand. Don't assume they can do it alone. They love group work, and do well if you make the guidelines clear. Do that with everything and it will be great.

Books will depend on the level of students you have. Here are popular ones with mine:
Picture books - Give a Mouse a Cookie series, There was an Old Lady series, I am series (Sacajawea, Einstein,....), Chris VanAllsburg books, Skippyjon Jones series,

Chapter books - any graphic novels on their level (Percy Jackson, Baby Mouse), Nate the Great series

They will seem like babies compared to fifth grade. But as you model and encourage them they will become more independent.

They are way more independent than first graders. What I loved about third graders (I am retired now.) is that they can take care of all their bathroom needs, tie their shoes, zip their zippers, snap their snaps, button their buttons..... You get the idea. If one of them does ask for help with tying their shoes ask a classmate to help them learn how to do it. If gives a student a chance to help and saves your back.

They will be less hormonal than fifth graders. YEAH!

Most will need more practice with addition and subtraction facts so they really "own" them before you start multiplication and then division facts. They are excited about learning to multiply because it makes them feel grown up. So really play up to that. A few may be nervous about learning to multiply. Figure out who they are and reassure them. There are many picture books about multiplication. Use these as a literature connection in math. It really helps those students who are better at LA and not strong in math. Here are just a few books to get you started.

It is such a sense of accomplishment for the students when they have learned all four operations in math. However, this makes solving word problems more challenging because they have to know which of these four operations to use. So they need lots of modeling and practice with problem solving.

In K. 1 and 2 they were learning to read. Now in third the focus changes and they are reading to learn. Comprehension is a whole new ball game. They need to discuss and really grasp that just pronouncing the words is not reading. At least not all of it. They need to understand what the words are telling them. You will be giving them lots of strategies for grasping the meaning of the words they read during reading and other subjects as well.
My favorite site for reading comprehension strategies is

The experiments are easy and normally use common household items which don't cost a fortune.

I liked using a newspaper for social studies. It is called studies weekly. It is written for your state and covers your standards. This is also a great tool for teaching how to read nonfiction and find factual information.

I bet you already know this but Pinterest is a great resource for finding picture book read alouds that will help you teach in content areas. Here is a list of books for science about force and motion that I just found on Pinterest. Look promising.

I think 1956 pretty much said it all. I always describe third grade as the last grade they think their teachers walk on water, by 4th grade they are on to us! They'll also come up and point out when I mark something as correct when it is wrong. I always give them the point for honesty...truthfully it's not worth the effort to change a grade by one point!!!!

This will help you get started until you know your population. Good luck!

Titles

7 X 9 =Trouble
Stone Fox
Because of Winn Dixie
Stuart Little
Charlotte's Web
The Tale of Despereaux
The Chocolate Touch
The Indian in the Cupboard
The Borrowers
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
How To Train Your Dragon
Maggie Muggie (if you teach cursive handwriting)
Mr Popper's Penguins
The Bridge to Terabithia

Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for these amazing responses! Thank you for all the advice and the many amazing book recommendations! I love books and have spent lots of time learning all I can about quality literature for 5th grade, so this is giving me a great head start for 3rd!

SusanTeach - I've said many times that I wish my kids would tattle MORE! 5th graders seem to get this weird secret society of never telling the teacher anything...and then I find out when it becomes a huge issue or a parent complains. I also love the idea of them being more independent than primary but still young. I have been told that this year's 2nd grade group is overall pretty low, so I'm glad to hear that 3rd graders still like a lot of the fun picture books.

1956BD - WOW! You are amazing! Thank you so much for posting information that I know I will be referencing again and again! I love the website - I hadn't heard of most of these before. Also, I love the idea of using picture books for math, especially for introducing multiplication. Thank you for all your insights about third graders, too!